It never ceases to amaze me at the number of people I meet in the community who share that they are alums of Rock Valley College and the overwhelmingly positive stories they share. In retrospect, that really should not be a surprise at all considering that RVC serves 8,000 degree or certificate-seeking students and provides some aspect of education/training to over 25,000 people every year! Traditionally, individuals have not thought of their local community college as their alma mater. Several of us on campus and others in the profession...

At the College we hear daily about the importance of our contributions and our impact on the region. We agree. The students we serve today are tomorrow’s employees, leaders, parents, and citizens. The person who will be selected as our new president will be asked to lead the College as it grows and evolves to meet the needs of our community. Whoever that person will be, he or she would welcome the opportunity to hear from you. We invite you to meet our remaining finalists on March 20 and March 26 from 6-8pm at community forums open to...

The warmth of spring has many of us thinking about planning vacations and spending time outside. I would like to invite you to also consider spending some time thinking about and planning your own education. Rock Valley College has a lot going on right now to help you explore your interests and your educational options. On April 22 and 23, we invite you to ‘Explore RVC’. Stop by to learn about our degree programs and the variety of student support services available to make your experience successful. You can also get tips for starting and...

Community colleges are often expected to be all things to all people. They are designed to be nimble – adjusting quickly to the needs of the regions they serve. Economic and employment trends often drive these changes, and at Rock Valley College we are called to the table to discuss how we can help address issues in the community. We say it often: it’s our mission, and it’s our privilege. Last fall Inside Higher Ed published a piece based on a study by Northeastern University that discusses the “soft skills” sought by employers, regardless of...

The recently announced partnership between RVC and the Airport is great news for our students and our community. As the Editorial Board stated, this is a good example of the transformation this community desires. We are grateful for the months of discussion between officials from both entities, as well as for the support from Winnebago County. Naturally, some questions have arisen, which we’re happy to answer to the best of our ability. When will we break ground, and when will the facility be open for students? Like everyone, we would love to...

In a recent blog we encouraged current and future RVC students to apply for scholarships from the Rock Valley College Foundation. The original scholarship application deadline has been extended to May 20, 2013. Only one application is necessary to be considered for all awards. For more information, check here or contact the RVC Foundation office at...